Since five weeks have passed, here are five updates, random thoughts, and glimpses at future plans:
1) I recently obtained a Citadel mould line removal tool. I may do a detailed write up on it some time, but for now suffice to say it's a beneficial addition to my tool kit. It's not perfect for everything - some areas still require the point of a standard #11 blade - but for most of the typical mould line areas (sides of legs, shoulder pads, etc.) it is much better. Because of the shape of the tip, it scrapes away the line flush with the adjacent surfaces.
2) My light box finally arrived! It's not a top-end model but it collapses into a sort of messenger bag for portability and storage. The side and top panels fold out and act as diffusers for the two portable lamps (which are amazingly bright for their size!) and it has interchangeable backdrops of black, white, red or blue. Perhaps this will allow me to take more professional pictures and add some photos to this blog! I will post a more detailed review of it after I've had a chance to use it a bit.
3) While visiting family "back home", I stopped in an art supply store and was able to procure a pair of Winsor & Newton Series 7 Miniature brushes, in sizes 0 and 00. I've had the chance to use them a bit and they seem like all that everyone has said about them - quality brushes that are worth the considerable expense. I'd like to get a Size 1 or 2 for basecoating when I have the chance. They do require a little extra care to keep clean, but it's worth the time to protect the investment,
4) Though I've been a Space Wolves player since the days of Rogue Trader, I've begun another 40K army. My friend Jason and I tried to get back into 40K when 6th Edition came out, but we only got in one game (wherein he demolished my entire army with almost no losses). He wanted to try out 7th but wanted to split a starter box. He doesn't like Orks, so Stormclaw was out (which would have supplemented my existing Wolves). Tyranids were also out of the question for him, so Deathstorm was a no-go as well. But he does like Chaos, especially after reading the background on the Crimson Slaughter. And the more I read about the Dark Angels, the more I was really digging their style. So we agreed to split a box of Dark Vengeance.
A few inexpensive purchases on eBay netted me an extra Librarian, squad of bikes and an additional Tactical Squad. I was able to obtain the limited edition Chaplain Seraphicus from the 6th Edition box as well. Then I traded in a bunch of unwanted games and minis at my local shop, and was able to get the Dark Angels expansion for a mere $20!
So now I have a (relatively) inexpensive Dark Angels army (enough to do the Unrelenting Hunt detachment when everything is assembled) plus a couple boxes of Company Veterans and an extra box of Deathwing for a command squad. Magnetizing the Dark Talon so I can also use it as a Nephilim is going to be a bitch kitty, but I'll save that task for last.
Here are a couple of the Terminators I've completed so far:
(Yes, I've finished the base since taking this shot)
5) Speaking of Dark Angels, I really wanted to add Belial to my army - I love Terminators the most, and any leader that lets me use them as Troops choices is a must have (especially when he has Terminator armor too!). It's what I used to love about Logan before the latest Codex removed the Loganwing as an option.
I tried to find Belial in my local stores with no success. Finally I decided to kitbash one for myself from Deathwing Knights and bits from the plastic Commander and Command Squad boxes. I've magnetized the arms to allow him all the permitted loadouts from the Codex. Here's what I've got so far:
"Come at me, bro!"
I decided to swap the storm bolter arm for one which can use the thunder hammer or Commander's storm bolter with strap. I'm also considering another set of arms to give him a more impressive sword, fit for a Grand Master:
So, that's what has been going on with me, and why I haven't been updating as frequently as I hoped! But being busy with the hobby can't be a bad thing, right? I promise to include some good pictures when these guys are done.
I'll leave you all with a bit of philosophy, a subject I consider important to any artistic endeavor:
Every minute of time you spend on this hobby should get you a little closer to getting something done.
Most of the time, we don't have as much time as we'd like to spend building and painting miniatures, models, or scenery. There's always something else that demands our time and attention - family, work, chores, school, and other social activities. So it can sometimes be discouraging to see unfinished work on the painting table, knowing how long it might be before it's finished. That can make it hard to sit down and pick up the brush when you might only have a few minutes to do something.
Use that time to your best advantage! If you have five minutes before leaving for work in the morning, and a model that needs some shading, there's time to apply an ink wash, which will dry while you are away. It doesn't really matter what it is - a model that will take you x hours to finish will take about that long regardless of whether you do it in one sitting, or in 15-minute increments during lunch breaks. Take the opportunity and press on, and you'll find that the sense of accomplishment motivates you to do even more!
(Just don't be like those people - myself included - who buy new miniatures faster than they can paint their existing collection. A big backlog can be discouraging, too.)
